The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-05-23
"CoLoNEL sELLERs:''

brsted Actor.
From the New York Sun.
Raymond's right name was Johr
OBrien. He changed it by the ad'
vice OF friends, who thought it would
he less difficult for him to succeed or
the stage under some other name. ID
was born in Buffalo on April 8, 1886
He was educated for a mercatile lie
but the humdrum ways OF business
did not suit him. He first appeared
on the stage as Lopez in the "Honey'
moon" on June 27, 1853, in Roches
ter. The following year ne played
Timothy Quaint in the SOLDIERS
Daughter" He has played in every
city in this country.
Mr.. Raymond never drank or usec
tobacco in any form. He never att
meat and was never known to los'
his temper He was considered
| competent, droll, correct actor. Hil
| first celebrity came OF the play which
Mark Twain made out OF the book
| "The Gilded Age" In that work o
| the humorist was the character OF Col
Sellers, with the adventures in which
| he figures now so Familiarity in thu
drama. The production was Twain't
own, and his monetary thrift marked
| the enterprise. Twain bore the ex
penses OF the venture.
RAYMOND was greatly given to guy
| ing his fellow actors on the stage, ano
when not acting, to matching colne!
with whomesoever he met. The S2C
cold piece was favorite coin will
him, though he would always stooI
to win even the quarters of less ven
turesome players. He has been known
O. thousand times to match for mere
cigar, but with a pocket OF jlnglin!
eagles and double-eagles he was
happiest at the hazard. He found
great sport in pins. The point OF
hin deftly intruded between O. fellow
actors shoulder blades during serl
Gus scene in a play always AFFORDED
him enjoyment. He liked to see nov
nearly he could upset o solemn face
On one occasion q young man was
playing Clay Hawkins in "Colone
Sellers" and Raymond, putting mis-
arm caressingly about the young
mans neck, prodded him with
pin for two acts. In the third &C
the pin seemed to lose its effect
The young man had inserted q
thin book under the back OF hi
coat. The hearty, even exuberan'
manner OF the genial Colonel Selleri
was Raymond's natural manner, anc
it was seen in all his later parts on tn
stage. 1t was no less observable in hi
bearing of the stage, and he always
shook hands very much as Colone
Sellers did in his greeting. Morning
Nancy, morning. as he slapped Mrs
ST Hawkins violently on the back.
He once dropped into o steamship
Office, and, slapping gold eagle dowrt
upon the desk, said to the astonishec1
clerk: al want to go to England anc
will match you for the passage. IL ]
lose I'll pay double fair"
Raymond once missed the train to
Chicago by stopping to match a dol
lar with friend. He was great
friend OF the late +. A. Sothern, thu
well.known Lord Dundreary OF thu
stage, and they used to play som,
great Jokes on each other. His health
failed rapidly during the past year
and he had been compelled more thar
once to leave the stage.
One day, five or six years ago, while
dining with six friends, it was suggest
ed that each put $40, 900 into Wal
street pool. A certain operation
promised big returns. The schem.
was tried. 1t failed. Mr.. Raymond
kept on in speculation and lost $3.50,
600 which remained OF his savings
After that he was comparatively
poor, although always capable o.
earning good income.
Off the stage Mr.. Raymond was ont
OF the most genial OF men. His year:
were not apparent in his netty, we'll
dressed figure or in his smiling face.
His first wife was Marie Gordon, 6
handsome actress, from whom he
parted legally by means OF q divorce
Six years ago he married Mist
Courtney Barnes, daughter OF Mrs
Rose Eytinge by her first husband
With her his wedlock seemed extreme
ly happy. They had remarkably
pretty boy, now five years old. Mrs
Raymond has not Travelled with him
this season, though visiting him al
handy points on his route, and whei
he has been i'll.